NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Legendary country songwriter Curly Putman has died at the age of 85.

The Country Music Hall Fame member made a name for himself by writing or co-writing hit songs such as “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” and “Green, Green Grass of Home.”

According to the County Music Hall of Fame, Putman was born in Princeton, Alabama, in 1930 and later moved to Nashville in 1964, where he signed with Tree Publishing Company.

Because of his accomplishments through his career, Putnam was elected to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1993 and to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1996.

US Sen. Lamar Alexander released the following statement about Putman’s passing:

“In a city of great songwriters, Curly Putman was one of the finest. ‘Green, Green Grass of Home’ was just one of his memorable hits. He wrote a ballad for my campaign for governor in 1978, ‘If the Right Man Was There,’ for which I will be forever grateful. Curly was a great friend, and I will miss him.”